The inspirational 29-year-old, who lifted the League Two title with Notts County in the 2009-10 season, was part of the Magpies' defence which kept a record breaking 26 clean sheets out of 46 league games that term.

In the early stages of his career, Thompson appeared over 150 times for Nottingham Forest's first team and won the UEFA U17 Championship with Republic of Ireland. He later went on to make his full international debut six years later, and subsequently gained a further two caps.

In 2006 he joined Tranmere Rovers in two successful loan periods, before joining Oldham Athletic, where injuries limited his first team chances.

Thompson then linked up with Forest's former academy boss Ian McParland at Notts County, where he made his debut in October 2008, subsequently making 110 appearances before leaving this summer.

After putting pen to paper on a two year contract, Thompson told http://www.mansfieldtown.net: "It's great to come to a club like this. It's a club that wants to get promoted. The manager sold it well to me and I was happy to sign.

"There was interest from clubs in higher leagues and I had to pick between three clubs, but seeing the performance and the stadium tonight 'swung it' for me," he added

Only a handful of players in recent times have played for all three of the county's three professional clubs in Forest, County and the Stags.

But having this summer swapped Meadow Lane for Field Mill after coming through the ranks at the City Ground as a teenager, Thompson joins the likes of Mark Smalley, Colin Calderwood, Darren Ward and Jason Lee in doing the Nottinghamshire rounds.

The former Republic of Ireland international signed a two-year deal over the weekend to drop down to non-league level for the first time.

Now the 29-year-old is looking forward to the challenge of trying to lead Mansfield back into the Football League.

"Nottingham and the county has always been my home from home since I came over here when I was 17," said Thompson.

"It's great to be able to carry on playing in the area and stay put where I am with my family.

"I played with Darren Ward for a few years while I was at Forest and it's nice to be able to join him in playing for all the major Notts sides.

"I had offers from the MLS and the side I went on trial with in Norway but I didn't think moving away for just a year was the right thing to do. It would have been a big upheaval.

"I also had other offers from Football League clubs and I had a decision to make but Mansfield really showed huge interest, which made it hard to turn them down.

"There is sometimes a stigma with dropping out of the Football League and that did cross my mind because I have played all my football in the League. But there is no doubting the ambition of this club and that it is where they want to be under an up-and-coming manager (Paul Cox) who is passionate about the game.

"It's important for this club to get promotion and I want to help them achieve that as soon as possible."

Thompson has been drafted in to address Mansfield's issues at the back, which saw them concede 75 league goals in 2010-11.

He said: "I would like to think I can do something about that record. That's why I'm here.

"Other clubs I have been at have been sound defensively but it's not just down to one person.

"I'm sure the manager will be doing lots of work with us in pre-season because if you keep clean sheets the worst you do is draw and it makes life easier."

Thompson is poised to make his bow at home against a Doncaster side with a reputation for playing eye-catching, passing football.

"I have played against them many times before in my career and they always seem to keep the ball well," he said.

"But watching the Notts County game, the Mansfield players showed they could keep the ball themselves.

"I don't think we will be too concerned about results in pre-season. The main thing is that a new set of players get to know each other."

The Stags boss is delighted to have landed the central defender and former Notts County captain on a two-year deal.

Cox is still looking to add 'two or three new faces' to complete his squad ahead of their opening Blue Bet Square Premier game of the season against Bath City on August 13.

And he hopes the statement of intent made by bringing in Thompson will encourage other players he is chasing that Mansfield is the right club to join.

"I think John Thompson will prove to be a great signing and really shows we mean business," said Cox.

"He is an excellent defender and at the age of 29 I think we have got him when he could play some of the best football of his career.

"There is no doubting his calibre and what he has done in the past and he is going to strengthen us defensively.

"I would like to think that this is a signing that will make other clubs sit up and take notice of what we are trying to do – as well as those players we are still trying to bring in.

"They can see the squad is now starting to take shape and that in people like John Thompson we have some excellent players here."

Mansfield were beaten 2-1 in their friendly with Notts County on Friday and Cox revealed he is set to have another look at Alan Goodall in tomorrow night's clash with Doncaster Rovers before deciding whether to offer the former Rochdale left-back a contract